Sorry guys- I was supposed to post this last week, but I managed to take a tumble so had to pass.
So, anyway, a couple of weeks ago Andy Tauer was in LA at ScentBar to premiere his “Hyacinth and a Mechanic. HaaM was an experiment originally, starting with a “bottle journey” where one would try and test then ship it on down th line to the next person. This was back in 2007 and at the time on PST I wrote:
“I find the opening intensely green. Really intensely green. The succulently green hyacinth is paired with lily of the valley and a bare whiff of cold camphor to make a lush but identifiably Tauer scent. Like his Reverie au Jardin, which challenges how you think lavender smells, the tart, green whiteness of the opening is light-years away from what you think that a hyacinth should smell like, but somehow seems perfectly right, like a lightbulb over your head. “Oh yeah! That’s hyacinth!”
Then the mechanic pops up. He starts off smelling oily, a bit like the note in SMN Nostalgia, that leather and oily old-car smell that I loved in that scent but wished lasted longer. It then gets stronger, almost Kolnisch Juchten- like in its fatted roundness. This mechanic might be bringing a bouquet, but he also is bringing a sandwich. There isn’t a lot of development in this, it dances around from cool whiteness and fatted leather darkness. Do I have to tell you that I am in thrall?”
I am happy to state that nearly 10 years later I am still in thrall. It’s everything I remember and I am thrilled that I was able to score a bottle, especially since it was a “come to the store and get it only during the time I am here” kind of deal. So I actually popped for a bottle despite telling myself I have quite enough scents for someone who is forbidden to wear them anywhere near work. Of course it is hardly a hardship to spend some time with Andy- he is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Now all we have to do is mercilessly bug him to put this one into wider release..
$89 for 100ML, available only at the point of sale at the time of the event. I purchased my bottle at ScentBar.
What a neat experience! Sounds like an interesting scent, even though not exactly my style I always love experimenting … you never know!
Great story and picture! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, this sounds like an interesting perfume, which is no surprise from Tauer. I love the name!
Looks like you had a great time. I have to admit that the few Tauer Perfumes that I tried were not for me. This one sounds like it might be, especially if the hyacinth is predominant as it is for Tara C. Maybe it could be released as a limited edition to start and join the Tauer lineup if it does well. I would definitely buy a sample and try it.
ooooh! Please enter me in your draw! Oh, wait… 🙁
It was nice to see you there Tom! Andy is a wonderful guy and I had a great time chatting with both of you. I am getting more hyacinth than mechanic from my bottle, which is just fine by me. Never got to smell the original bottle pass, so even though it meant 6 hours in the car, it was totally worth the drive. Pity it’s not in the regular lineup, but that makes it all the more special, getting it from Andy himself in person. He signed my bottle. 🙂
so envious. I love that hard to get scent!
Another envious one here… I was part of the original “bottle journey” and fell in love with HAAM for the brief time I had the sample. Unfortunately I was (and remain) on the wrong coast to buy my own bottle now that it’s launched! Enjoy…